Second Focusrite ADC Adapter question

I understand that the ADC adapter actually allows for the A/D conversion of 8 tracks; four from the unit in which the adapter is installed and four from the XLR ADC inputs on the back of the unit.

Of course, in any of the Focusrite literature, the outputs from another ISA 428 are shown connected to these inputs. But am I correct in assuming that there's nothing special or proprietary about these inputs and that they would accept any balanced analog signal and route it through the ADC adapter?

Thank you for helping me in my rationalization for spending another $600!

You are correct, they will accept any balanced input and process it with the ADC output for a total of 8 digital outs.

To answer your other thread on the same topic, yes, you would be adding extra steps to the processing of your signal and then feeding it through converters which are inferior to the Focusrite ADCs. (Not to say that the Aardvarks aren't good - they are, especially for the money.)

The 428 with the ADC and 4 other channels of preamplification PLUS the AES16 from Lynx would make a pretty good system. I don't know of any other system that will allow you 16 channels of 192kHz audio via AES to be imported into a computer (with the notable exception of the very expensive Mykerinos cards.)

yes, you would be adding extra steps to the processing of your signal and then feeding it through converters which are inferior to the Focusrite ADCs.

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You wouldn't really be adding any extra steps. With the card, the output of the preamp is connected to the input of the A/D converter. With the Aardvark, it's the same thing. The only difference is that it's handled internally with the card, and you need to physically connect a cable using it with the Aardvark. You'll probably find it to be a higher-quality signal if you get the card, but it won't be because of any extra steps. I have one with the card, and they're great-sounding converters.

Technically, you would be feeding a signal out of the Focusrite into another device with a gain stage located within the signal path, so yep, you are adding steps. Ultimately, the ADCs in the Focusrite are superiour to the ones in the Aardvark, but also, the benefit would be had from minimizing the amount of stages the audio goes through. If you were passing it to a straight ADC such as a Mytek, that would be a different story. Minor technicality, but true nonetheless.

I have a Lynx Two model A, will I be able to send the digital signal(s) from the 428 via one cable ?

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Nope. Well, kind of. You'll only be able to send two of the channels. The model A only has 2 channels of digital inputs. What I would Strongly recommend would be to add an additional Lynx Two, the model C. This would then give you 10 inputs and 6 outputs with their wonderful conversion and all at 192 kHz. Then, you could use any preamp you want with them. The conversion in the Lynx systems are hard to beat at any price. I don't think, despite the quality of the focusrite, that it would be on par with the Lynx.

conversion in the Lynx systems are hard to beat at any price. I don't think, despite the quality of the focusrite, that it would be on par with the Lynx.

Of course, all of the above are IMHO.

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Really ?? I have only experience with Apogee , Lynx and Benchmark.
And I am not so sure if the Lynx konverters are better than the Apogee.....

And when people claim (tape op magazine I think it was) that the Isa 428 A \ D converter beats the Apogee (Mini ME), I would think they are a step up from the Lynx ??

:? :?
As it is a digital signal it should not be about taste\ preferences \ aestethics ?? I mean, you should be able to run a \ b tests and run the recorded signal through a frequency analysis program to tell you which converter is best, no ???

Well... believe it or not, conversion is very much a subjective thing. While a great deal of it can be "measured," much of it still comes down to personal taste.

Truthfully, I don't trust a single thing I read in magazines. The simple fact is that they have to make money - piss off the big guys and they might not get any more advertising $$$. No matter how much they want to deny it, it's the truth.

That being said - I would use the Lynx conversion over Apogees any day. Benchmark's DA is in a whole different league than either of them. I eagerly await the day when I get to use the new AD from Benchmark. (of course, they've offered other ADs in the past, but the new one is supposed to be da Bomb!)

I have yet to hear an apogee that did not impart its character on the signal to a fairly significant degree. (Okay all, start your flame here...) Shy of Meitner or Prism boxes, I have yet to hear a converter as transparent as the Lynx systems, and heck, I haven't even heard their new Auroras (something else I'm eagerly awaiting.)